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Thursday, April 17, 2014
Socks
Meet Socks. In 2011 I decided to take horseback riding lessons, something I've always wanted to do. It was my 50th year of life and I needed some excitement, I guess. My husband has a client that owns a ranch near Denton, Texas, so set up was easy peasy. What was NOT easy peasy was learning to ride. The instructor was very particular on how he wanted me to sit, along with a number of other rules he was very strict about. Trying to be perfect while learning something new makes me extremely nervous. During my second lesson, the horse (not Socks) started going way too fast. Branches were hitting me in the face and I felt like I was going to fall off any moment and break every bone in my body. I was on a living, breathing roller coaster. The end.
So, that was my brief foray into horseback riding. I had more fun taking photos of the horses than riding them.
Please visit the Good Fences meme and see interesting fences from around the world.
Please visit the Good Fences meme and see interesting fences from around the world.
I had a horse when I was younger...Lucky...she was the sweetest. But these days, horseback riding isn't something I do. As with you, I'd much rather photograph them. Even tho, I do miss my Lucky.
ReplyDeleteGreat image Gail.
Sad to admit, some things are easier to learn when we are young. I suspect horseback riding might be one of them. But hey, you take great photos of horses!
ReplyDeleteI love the shot and I am so glad you never fell off:) Hug B
ReplyDeleteBeautiful horse. I'm sorry lessons did not go better. Maybe you should try a different place? Not all horse lesson places are created equal! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot, Gail!
ReplyDeletePushing one's boundaries are the only way to grow...eh?
ReplyDeleteGlad you survived your harrowing experience *wink*
Riding is easier learned young because balance comes so naturally to the young. But it can be learned later in life. I would encourage you to try again. Look for someone who give lessons in a controlled environment...an indoor arena or a fenced riding ring. There will be time enough later to move out onto a trail. If you can learn to kayak, you can learn to ride! But don't stop taking photos when you do. You caught a good one of Socks.
ReplyDeleteSocks is a beauty. I love horses and always wanted to learn to ride. Never did, though.
ReplyDeletelove the photo! i started riding later on and never got good at it. took lessons at an arena years back, then tried lessons on my own horse at home. two different worlds and i never got over the fear.
ReplyDeletethanks for linking in, ms. gail!
HI Gail At least you tried what you always wanted to do and discovered at 50 it was not worth breaking all the bones in your body. I did the same one time although my adventure ended in Morocco (too long a story to tell here!!)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a clever shot of the fence - love it! And Socks is adorable :) SO sorry the horseback riding didn't go too well - at least you tried, sweet friend!
ReplyDeletei love the image and the beautiful horse. this is on my bucket list.....i want to do everything before i reach the finish line, so to speak.
ReplyDelete"life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive, well preserved body...but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand ~ strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out ~ screaming, woohoo, what a ride"!!!
Love the photo of Socks! And I feel the same way about riding horses. I would much rather take photos of them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture and horse!
ReplyDeleteGentle, sweet Socks!!
ReplyDeleteI stopped riding at about age 60 when I couldn't mount from the ground anymore. My daughter and granddaughter are talented equestrians but they have been riding since age 5! Don't be discouraged - try again - in a small arena. It's a wonderful feeling. If not, keep taking those lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, you've gotta' know when to fold 'em. (I'm glad to know you're human and can't do everything as perfectly as you can photography!)...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds thrilling though I am not sure if I would want to be in your seat.
ReplyDeleteI grew up riding horses (and getting bucked off, smooshed against trees and shed walls and having a blast most every moment), but haven't been on one since my early years in high school. My guess is I'd be a bit anxious and uptight but love to think that I'd remember the joy of riding!
ReplyDeleteBUT! It's not for everyone and your photo more than makes up for it!!
At least you took lessons. My friend Lauren had an Appaloosa that hated human riders. I tried to ride him ( of course) and my kids still laugh about what he did to me.
ReplyDeleteOne of his favorite tricks to remove human riders was to pass under a low branch. When he rode under a low branch with me on his back, I grabbed the branch, which left me hanging in the trees by my arms. And I wonder why I have aches and pains today? Thus end endeth the lesson.
My daughter is 50 and has resumed piano lessons..it's safer.
Sounds like you needed a different instructor! I love horses - haven't ridden in years. They're on my list to photograph more of this year. Lovely photo!
ReplyDeleteI think learning to ride as an adult could be very tricky! Fortunately, I started as a child and spent at least 15 years doing something I loved. Then I moved away for 9 years, got married and started a family. It's been 25 years since I was on a horse. (One summer in my teens, I logged 500 hours horseback. I miss it.) I still love finding horses to photograph, though.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful horse ! My grandfather had horses but I never learned to ride a horse.
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Foto,s van paarden maken is ook kunst .
ReplyDeleteOh Gail, thanks for your support! I can't believe that I keep the surgery thing private til after the fact and then I make a big deal of the Chemo start day and make a big deal about it. Then it gets postponed. I don't have a new date yet. But I know if I would have kept the ct scan appointment today, I would have been shipped off to the funny farm right afterwards. lol - I jest but - no seriously.
ReplyDeleteThink Pink can be a slogan for any time breast cancer needs love and support and awareness. My gracious yes.
Your horse story was making me chuckle, Thanks. lol
I think I'd rather photograph horses too :) This one looks sweet, and I like her fence too.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of this very cute horse. It's been many years since I sat on a horse. The last time was when one bucked because he got startled. Scared the heck out of me, I went sailing and I ended up hanging underneath his neck. Wish I had a film of that because I have no idea why I didn't land on my you-know what. Like you I'd rather take their photos than ride, and enjoy them that way, as I still think they are gorgeous animals.
ReplyDeleteSocks is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I really know how to ride but I used to go horseback riding a lot in my teens and twenties. I love horses. I hope you'll heed Linda's advice because I suspect that you could foster a love for the activity given the right circumstances. In any event, you sure don't need lessons on how to make them look beautiful. Lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteSocks is a beautiful horse. Great fence shot!
ReplyDeleteHold those arms straight, Gail! You need to come ride at the Risin' B with Mr. Roy. He teaches in a corral.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful photo! Horseback riding is one of those things that takes time...lots of it.
ReplyDeleteSocks is a handsome horse. I would be right there with you if that happened to me. I believe that I haven't been on a horse for about 20 years now.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot ~ very expressive.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you had such a bad experience with riding :( ~ bad instructor , not the horse, nor you , I am sure.
Riding, being one with horses, is second nature to me I have been on and around them since I was 3.
That's a beautiful photo! Glad you are still in one piece!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful horse! That must have been a scary ride. I would love to take lessons someday. I wanted a horse so badly when I was a girl. I used to pretend that my bike was a horse. :-)
ReplyDeleteHeh heh. Sounds like what would happen to me!
ReplyDeleteDearest Gail;
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome horse your Socks is♡♡♡
I think I'm scared to ride but wish to see and touch horse at lest once p;)
Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Beautiful picture of the horse Gail.
ReplyDeleteThe riding itself is also not for me.
Greetings Irma
I tried riding once. When the horse went down, I went up, and vice versa. It going up and me down was not pleasant.
ReplyDeleteI took riding lessons in college and my horse was following the lead horse who started to gallop. Yikes! I held on for dear life, ducking branches until the teacher caught up to the "bad" horse. Cute story Gail.
ReplyDeleteSocks is gorgeous! When we lived in Tennessee, we had horses. One day I was riding down a back road when one of the neighbors brilliant sons came up behind us on a motorcycle without a muffler. I don't know how I kept from it, but I didn't fall off. That was one wild ride across ditches and through fields. I walked her back. lol
ReplyDeleteSorry you're lesson didn't go well. Not all trainers are the same and sadly there are a lot of not so good ones... Happy you survived the lesson and Socks is gorgeous, as usual I LOVE your images :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny story. Thank goodness you're living to tell about it and got to "The End" part.
ReplyDeleteYikes. That would have been scary. I took riding lessons when I was a kid, haven't been riding since though. I'd love to try again though.
ReplyDeleteThis post gave me a bit of a chuckle. I've ridden horses in my younger days...absolutely loved the freedom of it. Of course, I didn't have anyone telling me how to strategically sit/ride the horse. That would have likely caused me to never get on another horse. Socks is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha .... I recognize this Gail :-)
ReplyDeleteI love it even now prefer to take photos then go horseriding again. I've landed in a bush and take it from me that it did hurt a lot lol .......